66 Bible Verses about Watchfulness, Of Believers

Be sober; be on the alert. Your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

With all vigilance, keep your heart, for from it [comes] the source of life.

"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside are ravenous wolves.

You pay attention, O brutes among the people. And [you] fools, when you will show insight?

Hear teaching and be wise; do not neglect [it]. Happy [is the] person who listens to me, [in order] to keep watch at my doors day by day, [in order] to guard the frames of my entrances.

And Jesus answered [and] said to them, "Watch out that no one deceives you! For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will deceive many.

And he ordered them, saying, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod!"

Now I exhort you, brothers, to look out for those who cause dissensions and temptations contrary to the teaching which you learned, and stay away from them.

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act courageously, be strong.

Stay awake and pray that you will not enter into temptation. The spirit [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak!"

Stay awake and pray that you will not enter into temptation. The spirit [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak!"

"So {you must be very careful for yourselves}, because you did not see any form on the day Yahweh spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire,

so that Yahweh may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons take heed of their way, to walk before me in faithfulness, with all their heart and with all their soul, no man of yours will be cut off from the throne of Israel.'"

And he said to them, "Watch out and guard yourselves from all greediness, because not [even] when someone has an abundance {does} his life [consist] of his possessions."

And he said to his disciples, "It is impossible for causes for stumbling not to come, but woe [to him] through whom they come! It would be better for him if {a millstone} is placed around his neck and he is thrown into the sea than that he causes one of these little ones to sin. "Be concerned about yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

Therefore, the one who thinks that he stands must watch out lest he fall.

Brothers, even if a person is caught in some trespass, you [who are] spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of humility, looking out for yourself, lest you also be tempted.

"However, {take care} for yourself and watch your inner self closely, so that you do not forget the things that your eyes have seen, so that they do not slip from your mind all the days of your life; and you shall make them known to your children and to {your grandchildren}.

Only be very careful to observe the commandment and law that Moses Yahweh's servant commanded you, to love Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul."

You shall keep the charge of Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, his commandments, his judgments, and his testimonies, as are written in the law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all that you do and everywhere you turn,

Because of this, [it is] all the more necessary [that] we pay attention to the [things] we have heard, lest we drift away.

Watch out that you do not refuse the one who is speaking! For if those did not escape [when they] refused the one who warned [them] on earth, much less [will] we [escape], [if we] reject the [one who warns] from heaven,

and we possess [as] more reliable the prophetic word, to which you do well [if you] pay attention to [it] as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

So we prayed to our God and set up a guard against them day and night.

I said to them, "Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While they are standing guard let them shut and fasten the doors. And appoint guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his post and another opposite his house."

I said, "I will guard my ways {that I may not sin} with my tongue. I will keep a muzzle over my mouth as long as [the] wicked [are] before me."

Set a guard, O Yahweh, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.

He who keeps his mouth guards his life; he who opens his lips, ruin [belongs] to him.

He who guards his mouth and his tongue, he guards his life from danger.

If anyone thinks he is religious, [although he] does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion [is] worthless.

So also the tongue is a small member [of the body] and boasts great [things]. Behold how small a fire sets ablaze how great a forest! And the tongue [is] a fire! The world of unrighteousness, the tongue, is set among our members, defiling the whole body and setting on fire {the course of human existence}, being set on fire by hell. For every species of animals and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is being tamed and has been tamed by the human species,read more.
but no human being is able to tame the tongue. [It is] a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

For "The one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and [his] lips must not speak deceit.

My eyes [are] continually toward Yahweh, because he will take my feet from [the] net.

O my strength, I will watch for you, because [you], O God, [are] my (high) stronghold.

I lift up my eyes to you, the one enthroned in the heavens. Behold, as [the] eyes of servants [look] to the hand of their master, as [the] eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes [look] to Yahweh our God, until he is gracious to us.

I await Yahweh; my soul awaits, and I wait for his word. My soul [waits] for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning. Yes, [more than] watchmen for the morning.

{Get yourself} up to a high mountain, Zion, bringer of good news! Lift up your voice with strength, Jerusalem, bringer of good news! Lift [it] up; you must not fear! Say to the cities of Judah, "Here [is] your God!"

But [as for] me, I will look to Yahweh; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem {whose name was} Simeon, and this man [was] righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving, praying at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door of the message, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also {I am a prisoner},

Watch out! Be alert, because you do not know when the time is!

But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these [things] [that] are going to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."

with all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and to this [end] being alert with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,

Now the end of all [things] draws near. Therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for [your] prayers.

Therefore be on the alert, because you do not know what day your Lord is coming! But understand this: that if the master of the house had known what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. For this [reason] you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not think [he will come].

"Then the kingdom of heaven may be compared to ten virgins who took their lamps [and] went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were foolish and five [were] wise. For [when] the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take olive oil with them.read more.
But the wise ones took olive oil in flasks with their lamps. And [when] the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. But in the middle of the night there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all those virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish ones said to the wise ones, 'Give us [some] of your olive oil, because our lamps are going out!' But the wise ones answered saying, "Certainly there will never be enough for us and for you! Go instead to those who sell [olive oil] and buy [some] for yourselves.' But [while] they had gone away to buy [it] the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding celebration, and the door was shut. And later the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open [the door] for us!' But he answered [and] said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you!' Therefore be on the alert, because you do not know the day or the hour!

"But concerning that day or hour no one knows--not even the angels in heaven nor the Son--except the Father. Watch out! Be alert, because you do not know when the time is! It is like a man away on a journey, who left his house and gave his slaves authority--to each one his work--and to the doorkeeper he gave orders that he should be on the alert.read more.
Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or early in the morning-- lest he arrive suddenly [and] find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be on the alert!"

"{You must be prepared for action} and [your] lamps burning. And you, [be] like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that [when he] comes back and knocks, they can open [the door] for him immediately. Blessed [are] those slaves whom the master will find on the alert [when he] returns! Truly I say to you that he will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table and will come by [and] serve them.read more.
Even if he should come back in the second or in the third watch of the night and find [them] like this, blessed are they! But understand this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not think [he will come]."

Truly I say to you that this generation will never pass away until all [things] take place! Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. "But take care for yourselves, lest your hearts are weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of daily life, and that day come upon you suddenlyread more.
like a trap. For it will come upon all who reside on the face of the whole earth. But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these [things] [that] are going to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."

But you, brothers, are not in the darkness, so that the day should catch you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. So then, we must not sleep like the rest, but must be on the alert and be self-controlled.read more.
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But [because] we are of the day, we must be sober, [by] putting on the breastplate of faith and love and [as] a helmet the hope of salvation,

(Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed [is] the one who is on the alert and who keeps his clothing, so that he does not walk around naked and they see his shamefulness!)

but set Christ apart [as] Lord in your hearts, always ready to [make] a defense to anyone who asks you [for] an accounting concerning the hope [that is] in you.

Therefore, consider carefully how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of the time because the days are evil.

Live with wisdom toward those outside, making the most of the time. Let your speech always [be] with grace, seasoned with salt, so that [you] may know how it is necessary for you to answer each one.

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go over there [and] pray." And taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be distressed and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me."read more.
And going forward a little he fell down on his face, praying and saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you [will]." And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "So, were you not able to stay awake with me one hour?

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all [people], and especially to those who belong to the household of faith.

Remind them to be subject to the rulers [and] to the authorities, to obey, to be prepared for every good work,

[The] wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to kill him.

So Saul was watching David [with suspicion] from that day onward.

Then Saul sent messengers to David's house to guard him and to kill him in the morning, but Michal his wife told David, saying, "If {you do not save your life} tonight, [then] tomorrow you [will be] killed!"

He sits in ambush in villages; in the hiding places he kills [the] innocent. His eyes {lurk} for [the] helpless.

For I hear the rumor of many, "Terror [is] from all around, denounce [him], yes, let us denounce him!" {All my close friends} [are] watchers of my stumbling, [saying], "perhaps he can be persuaded, and we can prevail over him, and we can take our revenge on him."

And from that time on, he began seeking a favorable opportunity in order that he could betray him.

And they were watching him closely [to see] if he would heal him on the Sabbath, in order that they could accuse him.

But their plot became known to Saul, and they were also watching the gates both day and night so that they could do away with him.

Be on the alert and strengthen the remaining [things] that are about to die, for I have not found your works completed before my God. Therefore remember how you have received and heard, and observe [it], and repent. If therefore you are not on the alert, I will come like a thief, and you will never know [at] what hour I will come against you.